Uni Blues spoil Old Brighton’s perfect season, top four race down to five

With five rounds left in the Holmesglen Under 19 Premier Men’s competition, the race for a top four spot is down to five teams.

The most significant victory on the weekend was won by University Blues, who defeated previously unbeaten ladder leaders Old Brighton in one of the upsets of the season.

The Tonners will rue their inaccurate kicking as the fault of the loss, while the Blues will contrastingly stand proud with their conversion rate in front of the sticks.

The Blues led by two goals at quarter time and held Old Brighton goalless in the opening term, but it was by and large due to the Tonners wasteful shots on goal.

The Tonners kicked six behinds in the first quarter while University had kicked three goals straight, symbolising what would become the theme for the next three quarters of action.

A four-goal to one term boosted the Uni Blues out to a 31-point halftime margin, but it was a lead the Blues would not take for granted, having faded out in second halves and final quarters in a similar fashion to their AFL namesake.

Old Brighton commanded the third term and from a play point of view, it seemed the contest would roar back to life, but once again the Tonners were weighed down by inaccuracy.

The Blues were held to just two behinds, but 2.4 for Old Brighton meant the lead was narrowly shaved to 17 points at three-quarter-time.

Having been in this position before and seeing results go for and against them, the Blues’ experience in this scenario held them in good stead for the final term, delivering five goals straight to three goals to secure a monumental 28-point victory that shakes up flag contention.

Uni Blues coach Steve Boakes lauded his side’s ability to adapt to the conditions at JJ Holland Park.

“We were up to the mark early from a pressure aspect early,” Boakes said.

“It was a windy morning, and we adjusted to the conditions better and were the more accurate team with similar inside 50 entries.”

Boakes commended Will Hawkner’s lockdown run-with role on talented Tonner Andrew Langworthy, although Langworthy still claimed a highlight-reel worthy hanger that could be regarded as one of the best marks in the VAFA this season.

Connor Hogan starred in the ruck as Donovan Shier and Segdae Lucardie bagged multiple goals.

De La Salle’s season is still alive and kicking after a gritty victory over St Bedes/Mentone Tigers.

The last-placed Tigers were no easy-beats at home and trailed by just a goal at quarter time, but De La’s class would prove too good over the course of the contest.

SBMT remained in touching distance at each change of ends, never trailing by more than four goals at each siren as Jai Pugsley’s three goals helped the Tigers remain active.

De La ran out 14-point winners by the final siren off the back of a four-goal haul to Joshua Murray.

Had the Blues not pulled off their stunning boilover against Old Brighton, De La would have drawn level on premiership points with the fourth-placed outfit, but they remain a game and percentage outside the top four with five rounds to play.

St Kevin’s proved why they are one of the favourites for the flag in a ruthless display against Old Xaverians.

SKOB took a 26-point lead at quarter-time before the Xavs roped the lead in slightly to trail by only 18.

However, St Kevin’s took it to the next level in the third, piling on seven majors to just three behinds to push the lead close to ten goals, before coasting through to a 57-point fulltime result.

Matthew Redenback was deemed best afield for SKOBS while Adam Rizzo was admirable in defeat for the Xavs.

Old Scotch remain established in third place after surviving a valiant first half effort from Caulfield Grammarians.

The Fields certainly lost no supporters from their first half against a quality finals contender, with a hard-fought defensive effort holding the Cardinals to 26 points at half time, leaving Caulfield trailing by just four.

Scotch found their groove following the long break though, kicking five goals to two in the third term to burst the floodgates open.

Old Scotch’s defence assured the result was never in doubt, holding the Fields to seven final quarter points to win 12.10 (82) to 6.5 (41).

The Cardinals remain a game clear of the Uni Blues in third but will have to defeat second-placed St Kevin’s in Round 14 to maintain that buffer and close the gap on their upcoming opponent.

De Le Salle has the opportunity to pounce on a vulnerable Old Brighton outfit after the first blemish to their record was marked this week, but a rebound statement from the Tonners would jeopardise De La’s finals chances – although it wouldn’t kill them off just yet.

Caulfield take on Old Xaverians at home, while the Blues travel to Mentone Reserve to take on SBMT.